Alternatives to TI Flats

Ive been using TI flats on my Fender P for about 3 years, and for the most part Ive been pretty happy with them. Their low tension has always been a love/hate thing (left hand loves em, right hand hates em). Tone has been very good but not what you would call a traditional flatwound sound. Lately, Ive been playing a lot of 60s - 70s soul/R&B, and have been trying to get more of that traditional sound, which the TIs dont quite seem to be able to deliver. Plus, Ive found the low tension to be a bit of a hindrance to getting a good feel on funkier tunes.

So, Ive searched the archives and am thinking that the GHS Precision Flats (45-105) might be worth a shot. Id like to not go any heavier than 45-105 to avoid having to open up the nut slots, particularly since theres a good chance I could end up back with the skinny TIs. However, Im wondering if the sound Im looking for just requires a heavier string, particularly for the G. In the past Ive tried Chromes on this bass, which I found to be very uneven sounding (great thud on the E, but after nearly a year the G just wouldnt mellow out). Ive also tried GHS Bright Flats, but hated everything about them, as they seemed to be more of a worst of both worlds rather than best of.

Has anyone tried both the 55-105s and 45-105 Precision Flats? Do the heavier strings help to get a thick, dark tone? Is there something else I should be considering instead?

I have TI Flats on my Sadowsky right now, but I have played La Bella Deep Talking Bass Flats for a while. Great strings ... IMO best fundamental ever, and that's perfect for the tone you're looking for. Definitely I'll give 'em a try!

They do offer a lot of different gauges. Which ones have you used? Do you think I need to go with a heavier set? Their 760FM is 49/69/89/109, which is just a little heavier than the thickest strings Ive used before. The 760FLs are 43/60/82/104. Do you think I would get noticeable thicker tone with the mediums, or are we splitting hairs here? At this point Id like to stay away from the 54 set.

John,
I've tried the 760FL and the lighter gauge (I think the code is 760FXL anyway .39-.96). IMO you'll go in heaven with the 760FL but IME even with the lighter gauge one can enjoy the deep and strong fundamentals of the LaBella's.

Squidfinger, I never had a problem with the TI's after using them for more than 3 years. Too bad you experienced such quality problems as I do believe they are an excellent string. My needs have just changed a little, and I'm hoping the Labella's will fit the bill. I have used the Chromes on another bass and really liked both the sound and feel. For some reason they just didn't do the trick for me on this particular P bass.

Only flats I've tried were Ernie Ball, I think 45-100. I thought they provided a great vintage tone similar to what you're looking for. Used them on a DiPinto Belvedere semi-hollow. I play rock, and eventually switched back to rounds for more brightness and cut.

Squidfinger, I never had a problem with the TI's after using them for more than 3 years. Too bad you experienced such quality problems as I do believe they are an excellent string. My needs have just changed a little, and I'm hoping the Labella's will fit the bill. I have used the Chromes on another bass and really liked both the sound and feel. For some reason they just didn't do the trick for me on this particular P bass.

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Apparently there was a bad batch of E's out there. There were a bad batch of A's too according to Dude (a TI dealer). The 4 E's were extremely zingy and thin with low end comparable to the A.

I&#8217;ve been using TI flats on my Fender P for about 3 years, and for the most part I&#8217;ve been pretty happy with them. Their low tension has always been a love/hate thing (left hand loves &#8216;em, right hand hates &#8216;em). Tone has been very good but not what you would call a traditional flatwound sound. Lately, I&#8217;ve been playing a lot of 60&#8217;s - 70&#8217;s soul/R&B, and have been trying to get more of that traditional sound, which the TI&#8217;s don&#8217;t quite seem to be able to deliver. Plus, I&#8217;ve found the low tension to be a bit of a hindrance to getting a good feel on funkier tunes.

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I've been a TI Flats lover for almost four years now.

When I first tried the TI Flats, it was on my fretless Wal and I was in heaven with them on the fretless. But a couple of years later I got a fretted Precision and immediately put TI's on it and loved them from the get go. But after about 18 months with them on my Precision I came to realise that I have the exact same love/hate LH/RH syndrome as you, and it's because I tend to dig in more on the fretted bass. My problem was that my left hand became spoiled by the low tension of the TI's. I had a hard time settling on other strings because I wanted just a bit more tension (for my right hand) but not too much (because my left hand was now spoiled by the TI's), and I also wanted to get a bit more of a traditional tone out of the Precision.

Then I discovered the LaBella 760FL set (.043-.104), which I love! They are just what I was looking for...a bit tighter than the TI's but not too tight, and a great tone too.

I still use and love the TI's on my fretless basses, but on my fretted Precision I'm in heaven with the LaBella 760FL set.

Try a set of Sadowsky Flats and you probably won't go back to anything else.....Very Highly rated by the Bass player shootout and...me, I have been using them since he introduced them with Great success!!!!

I've been a TI lover for almost four years now, but I realised that I have the exact love/hate LH/RH syndrome as you. My problem was that my left hand became spoiled by the low tension of the TI's and I had a hard time settling on other strings because I wanted just a bit more tension but not too much.

Then I discovered the LaBella 760FL set (.043-.104), which I love! They are just what I was looking for...a bit tighter than the TI's but not too tight, and a great tone too.
I still use and love the TI's on my fretless basses, but I tend to play fretless with a lighter touch. On my fretted Precision I tend to play a bit harder and the slight increase in tension over the TI's is perfect.

Seriously, try the LaBella 760FL set.

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I agree. For R&B/Soul, you want the 760FL. IMHO more traditional tone than the TIs. Higher tension than TIs, but less than the chromes for example.

I currently have the 7560FS on one P bass and while I love the tone, they are killer on the fingers. Still recovering from the 4+ hour jam last night.

I was going to switch back to the 760Fls, but a string broke. Before you worry, I went through an intense period of changing strings. They where put on and taken off at least a dozen times. I find that most strings can't handle that. They go at the tuner.

Thanks all for your recommendations! Ive ordered a set of the LaBella 760FLs from JustStrings.com. They should be ready for pickup tomorrow (I live just a few miles away). Ill try them out over the weekend and let you know my first impressions.

I put the 760FLs on Friday night. Immediately I could tell they had exactly the tension I wanted, at least from my right hand perspective. From the left hand perspective they seemed a little stiffer than I was expecting. I was definitely glad I followed several of your recommendations to go with the lights as I would have went heavier on my own. My niece and nephew were staying over and sleeping in my practice room, so I had to wait until Saturday to plug in, but unplugged, they sounded good.

Plugging in Saturday morning I found that these strings definitely have the sound Ive been looking for! Obviously, they have that new string zing, but I know that will mellow out in a few weeks. For now I can kill most of it by rolling the tone down. Compared to the TIs, they have a thicker, fuller sound  exactly what I wanted. After playing for a while it occurred to me that I could probably lower the action a little as Ive found the TIs low tension requires a little room than other strings. A small tweak made a big difference  left had feel is excellent now! Sure, they are still a little stiffer than the TIs, but youd have to use guitar strings to find something softer than the TIs. Ill follow up in a month or so after they settle in and I get a chance to gig with them.

Try a set of Sadowsky Flats and you probably won't go back to anything else.....Very Highly rated by the Bass player shootout and...me, I have been using them since he introduced them with Great success!!!!

Peace,

T

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I'm a big fan of the Sadowsky flats, too. Very expensive, but sound great, and they have just a tad more tension than the TI Flats, but it makes a world of difference.

I also like the D'Addario Chromes. Great strings, and comparatively cheap.